Hatch Chili Popper Grilled Cheese

One of my friends that has a blog, blogged about grilled cheese the other week and I hadn't really been able to get the thought out of my head for a while, especially when she references this one...

Jalapeno Popper Grilled Cheese

So again during Hatch Chili week the wheels in my brain started turning, Hatch Chili Popper Grilled Cheese! I used the same recipe and just substituted the Hatch Chilis for the Jalapenos.

I love that this guy put crushed tortilla chips on his sandwich for the "breaded effect" because not only do i think it a novel idea, I actually put chips on every sandwich I make for myself.

Add Cheese and Chilis! We left a lot of seeds on because Hercules and I like spicy food.

Sizzle, sizzle...

And Voila! served with a cup of our leftover bean soup as talked about before. This was the perfect Sunday meal after a long weekend at the beach. I promised myself though it was back to healthy Monday.

Printable Recipe

Hatch Chili Mac & Cheese

It's Hatch chili week at Central Market!!! One of my favorite times in the wannabe foodie life. We were off to the coast with a bunch of friends for the weekend so what else is easier for a big group than to make a casserole, a casserole of hatch chili mac & cheese that is.

Ingredients

• 16-ounce package elbow macaroni
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1-1/2 pounds ground beef or turkey
• 1 jar Cookwell & Co. Texas Two-Step Green Chile Stew Mix
• 1/2 cup whipping cream
• 1 pound Velveeta cheese, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
• 2 teaspoons Southwestern seasoning blend
• 1 (4 ounces) shredded Colby-Jack cheese
• 2 cups canned fried onion rings, or bread crumbs
• 
  
• Directions:
• Make macaroni according to directions, drain and set aside.

Cook the meat in the oil and drain

And then add the cheese! good for my tummy, bad for my bottom...

For the "southwestern seasoning" i did some chili powder, cumin, red pepper flakes, pepper etc.

Then add the green chili portion and the whipping cream, and melt it

I have to say if you don't make the mac & cheese this was the best queso I have ever had.

I didn't want to bake the whole casserole so for a little taster to make sure it was a good recipe, I whipped out a couple ramekins 

And put this guy in the fridge for the weekend, my friends aren't going to even know what hit them.

I wanted a little top off with a crunchy crust, but hercules and I had a difference of opinion on how this should be done...

The Faceoff:

Bread crumps (Hercules's pick)vs. Fried Onion Rings (my pick) 

Hercules is the hubby because he looks like this 

<- however he likes to think he looks like this -> 

Our little tasters were so yummy and definite affirmation that this was a good recipe, can't wait to cook the whole casserole!

Easy Bean Soup

Didn't feel like going to the grocery store, still way too tired from the weekend of karaoke and playing ladder-golf on the beach. I found this recipe a couple of years ago sadly in a weight watchers mini cookbook but shhhh... It was surprisingly good and super easy to make so it made its way back to the kitchen every now and then, not to mention it was only 3 points! (In the weight watchers world I believe that is very good, but maybe I'm just convincing myself that it would be good). The recipe mini cookbook was lost over the years so I just kind of wing it now.

Saute the onions until clear then add a little cilantro, cumin, and a little chili powder.

Drain and rinse a can of kidney, pinto, and black beans then add to the pot. This is one of the reasons it is so easy because I buy these to have a hand for many recipes, so they keep for a long time.

Then add can of chicken broth, and a cup of salsa (everyone who lives in San Antonio has some kind of salsa in their fridge at all times)

And then you can't really just have bean soup.... So we add a little rice for texture (and starch, but don't tell weight watchers)

Looks like a little asian dish at first, but it's not...

Easy bean soup! So yummy and my lunch for the next day too! ( I know topped with cheese, REALLY don't tell weight watchers... cheese is the enemy but I love all kinds!)

The Park Motel Cafe

While furniture shopping with my Madre last Friday at one of our favorite stores Bygones (2 locations, the one we usually go to is on Broadway near the sonic and half price books) I was so hot and parched i forced my mother to stop in this new cafe that I had read about on San Antonio Tidbits right behind Bygones, she was so happy I did too. We got their fresh herbal tea's, they have white (peach) and black (summer rain), but a perfect mixture with the two combined. 

As we chatted with the check-out girl we learned that is was actually her husbands new restaurant and he was the head chef, she asked if we wanted a sample of the watermelon soup..... um duh! It was a-ma-zing, it was cool and refreshing and she topped it off with some feta, fresh basil, and a balsamic reduction, it was the perfect hot summer light meal. If you are wanting to try out a new place i will probably see you here because I will be going back frequently.

The Park Motel

3615 Broadway

San Antonio, 78209

(210)824-0993

http://www.theparkmotelcafe.com/

The Princess of Dog Wales

 If you were a small child in the 90's or the parent of a small child in the 90's you knew of beanie babies. Those little heart shaped red tags held the so much joy and love, and for some reason I kept mine in a personalized beanie baby suitcase in the way back corner of my closet, why I have NO idea. So recently everyone loved everything about the royal wedding, there were so many souvenirs and memorabilia sold that aunt diane shelled out hundreds of dollars for a monogrammed mug. Someone told me that anything Princess Diana was selling like hot cakes and being my gullible self, although embarrassed to say, believed them. I whipped out my Princess Diana beanie baby and was certain it would go for a couple hundred on ebay. As we can see this was not the case...

So in my defeat and embarrassment I gave the Diana bear to the dog... However I think it was sacrilege during the beloved Princess of Whales son's wedding, because the thing is haunting me. I think maybe the things were made to sort of stand up, but whenever my pooch leaves it places it sits and stares at me. I started documented some of the findings because you just cannot make this up.

I came home for lunch one day, guess who was waiting for me....


In the kitchen:


Really....


Wayyy to early and before my coffee to awaken to this candle in the wind...


It even still looks creepy while Chief is playing with it...


Watching TV and realize England's Rose was watching me... Not kidding it was up on top of the ottoman.

This was the absolute worst. I tried to go 'green' with the dog toys and this organic hemp toy was found strangling her grace.

Off To The Races!

For my husbands and good friends birthday the other weekend we wanted to do something different, a little adventuresome, and to kind of get out of our little bubble that we live in.... So, we went to the races at Retama Park! I do have to give all credit to my friend Rees for the idea and planning of the great party that we got to tag along too, it was an absolute blast and won a little money throughout the night. However, what is going to the races without wearing a fabulous hat? Luckily my fashion-savvy mother-in-law has a wonderful collection of fabulous hats that she sweetly let us borrow. As they sat in my kitchen I began to notice that each hat their own personalities, and I naturally began to wonder what that girl would be that wore that hat...

Champagne Wishes and Caviar Dreams:

Sophisticated very stylish gal, attending a vogue launch party for a new fabulous line of resort wear.

The Wedding Cake:

Not afraid of a little bit of attention, has many different 'layers' to her. She's is either attending a tea party with a mad-hatter or a luncheon on the lawn of a plantation home.

 The Romantic:

The sweetheart who every guy wants to be with and every girls wants to be. I picture her in the roaring twenties with a champagne coupe (yep i looked that up) listening to some ragtime music while some young cabana boy fetches her fresh fruit.

Breakfast at Tiffany's:

A classic, goes with everything. I picture this gal to be polished and refined, she never swears, sweats, or  lets her hair air-dry.

The Rebel:

This gal likes to have fun, always has a drink her hand and an audience listening. She is witty and pretty and bright!!!

Sheryl, Tori, Sinead, Jewel, Fiona, Carly... Gangs all here!

The crew, well almost I kicked all of the other lame girls out of the picture that were too cool to wear hats. Obviously they missed out.

Which hat would you be?

Veni Vidi Veggie!

Sometimes I think I have the same schedule as a 5-year-old. I take naps regularly, get cranky, and after I get home from work I like to have a little snack to ease me until dinner time.  I took the box of cookies from the weekend to the office so I wouldn't even be tempted to sneak one after dinner. Luckily the box of cookies was gone in a matter of 1 hour (I think mostly by one person, that I will not rat out). Still on my health kick, instead of some chips or some other typical carb that i crave I had will power and went for the veggies with a little Serrano Ranch! I do have to say that I was delighted and satisfied, hopefully this kick will stick.

Pecan Crusted Chicken Salad

I have been trying to be healthier this week after a weekend of gluttony, so naturally a salad comes to mind first. I can eat just a salad for dinner, but the husbands "needs something a little more substantial" is what he says. So add a little chicken and we are good, but a plain chicken in a salad is so boring. Found some nuts, and went to the internet. I actually found this recipe on Rachel Ray's website I am sad to say because I cannot stand her, mostly her voice. However, the recipe was super easy and very quick to cook. 

Ingredients: 

• 1 cup pecans. toasted

• 1/2 cup bread crumbs

• 1 teaspoon dried basil

• 4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts (about 1 1/2 pounds total)

• 1/4 cup honey mustard

• (I halved the recipe since there are only 2 of us)

 Using a food processor or my magic bullet in this case (an impulse buy at Costo 2 years ago, definitely not worth it) grind the pecans into fine crumbs. Transfer to a wide, shallow bowl and stir in the bread crumbs, basil, and some salt and pepper.

 Rub each chicken breast with honey mustard, then coat with the pecan mixture. 

 Place on a nonstick baking sheet (i like to wrap with foil for no clean up and drizzle with some olive oil. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes at 400 degrees. 

I used some mixed greens for the salad with a little walnuts, candied pears, and a pear gorgonzola vinaigrette.

 It was delicious and nutritious!

All in all a great easy guilt-free meal. Although I am not pro Rachel Ray this one recipe will be a repeat.

Spaghetti Madness!

Time to get out one of our many new fun kitchen gadgets and whip up a night of spaghetti madness, madness, madness (in an echo voice). My favorite of the gadgets is the kitchen aid mixer, and you can get all of the accessories to do many more things with it. We got the pasta press that makes 6 different pastas; Spaghetti, Bucatini, Rigatoni, Fusilli, Large Macaroni, and Small Macaroni. 

On the Menu Tonight:

Spaghetti with Vodka Sauce and Ground Sirloin

Small Side Salad with Tomatoes, Croutons, and a Balsamic Vinaigrette

On the Playlist Tonight:

Papa loves Mambo – Perry Como

I Won't Dance – Frank Sinatra

I've Got the World on a String – Frank Sinatra

Just in Time – Tony Bennett

The More I See You – Nat King Cole

Day Tripper – Sergio Mendes and Brasil ‘66

The Way You Look Tonight – Michael Bublé

*Anything by Ol' Blue Eyes himself or Tony Bennett is always on key

For the Dough:

4 eggs

3 1/2 cups sifted all-purpose flour

1 tbs water

1 tsp salt

Put the flour and salt in the mixer bowl with the flat beater attached, put on speed 2 and gradually add the eggs and 1 tbs water, mix for about 30 seconds. Stop the mixer and exchange the flat beater for the dough hook, put on speed 2 again and kneed for 2 minutes. You may need to hand kneed the dough a little to get it a little more cohesive.

Mold dough into walnut-sized pieces and place into the top of the pasta maker, you kind of have to watch it and help it along when needed. Also rotate the bowl your new pasta is deposited in so it doesn't clump up.

Since we were making the actual pasta, I thought we would make it a little easier and just buy a good sauce. We tried this one from Central Market, and I really enjoyed it! 

Ground Sirloin + Vodka Sauce = Saucy Greatness

It was so delicate and pretty, it was like art! Which just recently at the McNay Art Museum they had a whole exhibit about things with macaroni or cheese puffs, can't quite remember which one. I obviously really wanted to see it, but never made time sadly. 

To cook fresh pasta, just place it in boiling water with some salt and a little olive oil. It only takes about 2-3 minutes, a lot less than dry store-bought pasta so you have to watch it pretty carefully.

Drain and place back in bowl, and then add the saucy greatness.

For spaghetti madness night a nice Chianti pairs well with the richness of the sauce and beef.

Mama Mia, thats a some good pasta!